Latvia - Legal Protection to Those Officials who Notify on the Conflict of Interests of Colleagues

The responsible commission of the Saeima on 26 January 2011 approved before the second reading amendments to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials introducing legal protection to those officials who deliver information on conflict of interests of other public officials.

The approved amendments provide that the head of the institution will be prohibited to reveal which employee has notified him/her on possible conflict of interests of other public officials. The head of the institution will also be prohibited to cause direct or indirect negative consequences to such person.

It will be allowed to reveal such information only to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB), the State Police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as well as to the court and public prosecutor’s office.

Such amendments are necessary to implement the Recommendations of the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) on the protection of “whistle-blowers”.

It is planned that the Parliament will adopt amendments in second and third reading already in the nearest future.